Social Question

Why do aging rock stars still perform up into their late 70’s or 80’s?

Christina Mcvie with Fleetwood Mac is 75 today and on tour.
Mick Jagger is 74.
Paul McCartney is 76, just to name a few. Why don’t they want to retire? Do they need the money, the attention, the perceived relevance?

Most musicians are not rich. In fact I read an article once by Devin Townsend who said that he makes about $60,000 per year despite the fact he works his butt off. Nobody makes money selling CDs or mp3s anymore because everybody is streaming music, and the artist make literally pennies, if anything, off of apps like Spotify. And people bootleg everything onto youtube.

Additionally many of these musicians have gotten ripped off by the record companies, the agents, and the managers, and they don’t have a lot of money. So literally the only way they can make any money is to perform and to have people pay for their music ahead of time on Pledge Music.

I think it’s so much a part of who they are and what defines them that they can no more just quit than….. give me a comparison here. I don’t really know music, but I know people who do, and for them it’s an urge, an instinct they can not deny. I must be expressed.

Who among us would pass up being adored until we die?
They put their soul out for the public to enjoy, and when we do, year after year from one generation to the next, it validates their existence.
If you have family who loves you, adores you, do you quit going to Thanksgiving dinner just because all your portions have to be pureed?
Of course not.